Cruisin’ with Bogey

Saturday

Jul 5, 2008 at 6:48 AM

BEATRIZ E. VALENZUELA Staff Writer

APPLE VALLEY — It has been Kathy Scott's long-time dream to visit Alaska. When the opportunity arose for she and her friend, Donna Hobson, could take a cruise to the northern state with the Apple Valley Senior Club, she was ecstatic.

To be safe, she and Hobson booked their trip directly through the Automobile Association of America with Celebrity Cruise Lines last July and each placed $500 towards the trip.

When the friends were called by AAA in June to come in and pay the remainder of their balance, they found an additional $209 added to the cruise cost.

"They said the insurance was not paid on it and since we didn't have our paperwork with us we weren't too sure," said Scott, 65.

After taking a look at the details of the trip, they noticed the paperwork showed the insurance was paid in two separate places.

When the women brought it to the travel agent's attention, they were told it was an error it was marked as paid and they still had to come up with the charge.

Already upset they were denied a $300 discount and that they were not told about the charge a few weeks before the trip, they decided to contact consumer advocate, Mike "Bogey" Boguslawski concerning the insurance.

Within a week of sending in their complaint, the women heard back from Boguslawski.

After speaking with officials from AAA, the company worked with Celebrity Cruise Lines to refund the women their insurance payment.

"We really do try to resolve any customer service issues we have," said Marie Montgomery, spokesperson for AAA. "Things like this do happen from time to time."

While Montgomery chalks the situation up to a simple mistake where there was a miscommunication between the travel agent and the cruise line, the two companies worked together to get the women their money back.

"We are seniors who live on a fixed income," said Scott. "We don't have the money to pay these extra charges. If it had been my mistake, you know I would have had to pay for it."

Scott now looks forward to taking her long-awaited trip in August.

"Although I am a little upset over the $300 discount, you bet I'm going to have a great time," Scott beamed. "Bogey is my hero."

If you would like to contact Bogey, send a letter about your complaint along with contact information to P.O. Box 1398, Victorville, CA 92392 or fax it to 241-1860.

Beatriz E. Valenzuela can be reached at 951-6276 or at BValenzuela@vvdailypress.com